Career Timeline of Jeff Gordon: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Jeff Gordon built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jeff Gordon is a retired American stock car racing driver and current executive at Hendrick Motorsports. Driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports from 1993-2015, he achieved immense success in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Sprint Cup Series. He is considered one of NASCAR's greatest and most influential drivers, credited with boosting the sport's popularity. Gordon also briefly served as a substitute driver in 2016.
6 hours ago : Jeff Gordon Reveals Reason for Not Attempting 'The Double' at Indy 500.
Jeff Gordon revealed he didn't attempt 'The Double' due to it not feeling right. Indy 500 updates included lineup, time, weather, and viewing information.
1972: Modern Era NASCAR
With 93 career points-paying victories, Gordon is ranked third among the all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners; he is ranked first when considering only wins achieved during the sport's modern era (1972–present).
1979: Won 51 Quarter Midget Races
In 1979, at a young age, Jeff Gordon won 51 quarter midget races, demonstrating his early talent and passion for racing.
1985: Bill Elliott and the Winston Million
In 1985, Bill Elliott achieved the Winston Million but did not win the Winston Cup.
1986: Started Racing Sprint Cars
In 1986, Jeff Gordon began racing sprint cars and won three races.
1989: USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year
In 1989, Jeff Gordon was awarded USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year.
October 20, 1990: First Busch Race
On October 20, 1990, Jeff Gordon's first Busch race came at North Carolina Motor Speedway in the AC-Delco 200, driving the No. 67 Outback Steakhouse Pontiac. He qualified second but finished 39th after a wreck.
1990: Won USAC National Midget Title
In 1990, Jeff Gordon won the USAC national Midget title.
1991: Captured USAC Silver Crown
In 1991, Jeff Gordon captured the USAC Silver Crown, becoming the youngest driver to win the season championship at the age of 20.
1991: Busch Series Rookie of the Year
In 1991, Jeff Gordon was named Rookie of the Year in the Busch Series.
November 15, 1992: Gordon's Cup Series Debut
On November 15, 1992, Jeff Gordon made his Cup Series debut at the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
1992: Set NASCAR Record for Poles in a Season
In 1992, Jeff Gordon set a NASCAR record by capturing 11 pole positions in a single season.
1993: Full-Time Winston Cup Series Debut
In 1993, Jeff Gordon began competing full-time in the Winston Cup Series, driving the No. 24 car for Hendrick. He won the Gatorade Twin 125's race, earned his first pole position, and finished 14th in points, winning Rookie of the Year.
1993: Started Full-Time in NASCAR Winston Cup Series
In 1993, Jeff Gordon began racing full-time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports.
1993: First Time Outside Top Ten Since 1993
In 2005, Jeff Gordon finished outside the top ten in the point standings for the first time since 1993.
1994: Busch Clash and Brickyard 400 Wins
In 1994, Jeff Gordon won the Busch Clash exhibition race at Daytona. He also won the Coca-Cola 600 and the inaugural Brickyard 400.
1994: Jeff Gordon Day twenty-year anniversary of his first career win in the 1994 race
In 2014, the twenty-year anniversary of Jeff Gordon's first career win in the 1994 race was commemorated with "Jeff Gordon Day" by Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard.
1995: International Race of Champions Participation
In 1995, Jeff Gordon began running in the International Race of Champions.
1995: First Cup Series Championship
In 1995, Jeff Gordon won his first Cup Series championship.
1995: Gordon became youngest Cup Series champion
In 1995, at the age of 24, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Cup Series champion in NASCAR's modern era.
1996: Second Place in Championship
In 1996, Jeff Gordon won ten races but finished second in the championship to his teammate Terry Labonte, losing by 37 points.
1997: Road-Course Wins
From 1997 to 2000, Gordon earned a record six-consecutive road-course wins.
1997: CART Offer
In 1997, Jeff Gordon was offered a ride by CART team owner Barry Green with Team Green as a stepping stone to F1's British American Racing. However, Gordon declined, stating that there are "just too many steps" to reach F1.
1997: Consecutive Winston Cup Title and Daytona 500 Win
In 1997, Jeff Gordon won his first Daytona 500, becoming the youngest driver to win the race at the time. He also won his second consecutive Winston Cup championship.
1997: Cup Series Championship and Daytona 500 Win
In 1997, Jeff Gordon won the Daytona 500 and his second consecutive Cup Series championship.
1998: Record 13 Wins in a Season
During the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Jeff Gordon achieved a modern-era record of 13 wins in a single season.
1998: Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Opening
In 1998, Jeff Gordon opened a dealership, Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, located in Wilmington, North Carolina.
1998: Third Winston Cup Title
In 1998, Jeff Gordon won a modern-era record 13 races and clinched his third Winston Cup title. He set Winston Cup records, including consecutive wins and top-five finishes.
1998: Cup Series Championship
In 1998, Jeff Gordon won his third Cup Series championship.
1998: International Race of Champions Win
In 1998, Jeff Gordon won one race at Daytona in the International Race of Champions. He led only two laps but was the race leader by lap 30.
1999: Gordon/Evernham Motorsports (GEM) Formed
In 1999, Jeff Gordon along with Cup crew chief Evernham formed Gordon/Evernham Motorsports (GEM) in the Busch Series.
1999: Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation Establishment
In 1999, Jeff Gordon established the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses.
1999: Second Daytona 500 win and Lifetime Contract signed with Hendrick Motorsports
In 1999, Jeff Gordon started the season with his second Daytona 500 win. He proceeded to win races at Atlanta, Fontana, Sears Point and Watkins Glen. Following Evernham's departure, Brian Whitesell took over and Gordon won at Martinsville and Lowe's. During 1999, Chip Ganassi and Jerry Jones expressed interest in signing Gordon.
1999: Inaugural race at Phoenix win
In 1999, Jeff Gordon won at the Outback Steakhouse 200, the inaugural race at Phoenix.
2000: Road-Course Wins
From 1997 to 2000, Gordon earned a record six-consecutive road-course wins.
2000: First Win with Robbie Loomis and 50th Career Victory
In 2000, Jeff Gordon entered his first season with Robbie Loomis as his crew chief. With Loomis, Gordon recorded his first win of the season in the spring Talladega race, marking his 50th career victory. He also won races at Sears Point and Richmond, finishing the season ninth in points.
2000: International Race of Champions Participation
In 2000, Jeff Gordon ran in the International Race of Champions.
2000: Lifetime Contract with Hendrick Motorsports and 50th Career Victory
Starting in 2000, Jeff Gordon signed a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports, which allowed him to become an equity owner in his No. 24 team.
2001: Fourth Cup Series Championship
In 2001, Jeff Gordon won his fourth Cup Series championship.
2001: First wins since 2001
In 2014, Gordon also won at Michigan and Dover, his first wins at the tracks since 2001.
2002: Three Wins in 2002
In 2002, Jeff Gordon secured three wins at Bristol, Darlington, and Kansas.
2002: Declined Invitation to Race of Champions
In 2002, Jeff Gordon was invited to participate in the International Race of Champions, but declined due to time constraints.
2002: United States Grand Prix Pole Time
In 2002, the United States Grand Prix's pole time was 1:10, while the slowest was 1:13.
June 11, 2003: F1 Test Drive
On June 11, 2003, Jeff Gordon participated in a test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with then-WilliamsF1 driver Montoya. Gordon drove Montoya's Williams FW24, marking the first time he had driven an F1 car, recording a time of 1:17 on his first lap.
2003: Three Wins in 2003
In 2003, Jeff Gordon achieved three wins at Martinsville (twice) and Atlanta.
2004: Five Wins and Third in Nextel Cup Series
In 2004, Jeff Gordon won five races at Talladega, Indianapolis, Fontana, Infineon, and Daytona in the Nextel Cup Series. Despite a 6-race streak of top 5 finishes, the Chase for the Cup points reset erased his lead, leading to a third-place finish in the points standings.
2004: Carneros Chardonnay Debut
Jeff Gordon debuted his wine line with a 2004 Carneros Chardonnay in October 2005.
May 2005: Jeff Gordon Racing School Partnership
In May 2005, Jeff Gordon announced a partnership with Bob Lutz to form the Jeff Gordon Racing School, a stock car racing experience for fans which began its operations at Lowe's Motor Speedway in August that year.
October 2005: Wine Line Launch
In October 2005, Jeff Gordon started a line of wine with Briggs & Sons Winemaking, Co., debuting with a 2004 Carneros Chardonnay.
2005: Third Daytona 500 Victory and Chase Inconsistency
In 2005, Jeff Gordon started the season with his third Daytona 500 victory, followed by wins at Martinsville in the Advance Auto Parts 500 and at Talladega. Inconsistency plagued him throughout the year, and he failed to qualify for the Chase. Steve Letarte took over as crew chief, and Gordon eventually won at Martinsville in the Subway 500.
2005: Martinsville win since 2005
In 2013, Jeff Gordon won his first race at Martinsville since 2005.
December 16, 2006: Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital Opening
On December 16, 2006, Jeff Gordon opened the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital at the NorthEast Medical Center.
2006: Two Wins and Two Poles in 2006
In 2006, Jeff Gordon recorded two wins at Infineon and Chicagoland, along with two poles at Dover and Phoenix.
January 2007: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Release
In January 2007, Jeff Gordon's wine line with Briggs & Sons Winemaking, Co., released Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
2007: Athletes for Hope Founding
In 2007, Jeff Gordon co-founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
2007: Rolex 24 Debut
In 2007, Jeff Gordon debuted in the Rolex 24 as a co-driver of the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac-Riley for Wayne Taylor Racing. His team, consisting of Max Angelelli, Jan Magnussen, and Wayne Taylor, finished third, two laps behind the winning team.
2007: Prelude to the Dream Race
In 2007, Jeff Gordon participated in the Prelude to the Dream charity dirt track race at Eldora Speedway and finished third.
2007: Six Wins and Second in the Chase in 2007
In 2007, Jeff Gordon's performance improved greatly with six wins and seven poles. He won at Phoenix, tying Darrell Waltrip's modern-day record of 59 poles, and at Talladega, he recorded his 77th Nextel Cup victory. Gordon finished the Chase second in the standings to Jimmie Johnson.
2007: Jeff Gordon 24 Energy Drink
In 2007, PepsiCo introduced Jeff Gordon 24 Energy, an orange tangerine-flavored energy drink, which has since been discontinued.
2007: Most Wins Since 2007
In 2014, for the first time since 2007, Jeff Gordon recorded four wins in a season.
2008: Prelude to the Dream Race
In 2008, Jeff Gordon participated in the Prelude to the Dream charity dirt track race at Eldora Speedway and finished 14th.
2008: One Win During 2008-2010
In 2008, Jeff Gordon struggled, recording just one win at the Samsung 500.
2009: NASCAR Racing Experience
In 2009, Bob Lutz rebranded the Jeff Gordon Racing School as NASCAR Racing Experience.
2009: Gordon Reaches $100 Million in Winnings
In 2009, Jeff Gordon became the first NASCAR driver to reach US$100 million in career winnings.
2009: Third Place Points Finish and $100 Million in Winnings
In 2009, Jeff Gordon finished third in points and became the first driver in NASCAR history to pass US$100 million in career winnings.
2009: Missed Prelude to the Dream Race
In 2009, Jeff Gordon had been intending to run the Prelude to the Dream race, but did not due to scheduling conflicts.
2010: Prelude to the Dream Race
In 2010, Jeff Gordon participated in the Prelude to the Dream charity dirt track race at Eldora Speedway with Team Riley Hospital for Children and finished 22nd.
2011: First Win in 66 Races and 85th Career Win
In 2011, Alan Gustafson joined Gordon as crew chief. Gordon won for the first time in 66 races at Phoenix. He broke the tie for the third-most poles, tied Bill Elliott for the most wins at Pocono, and claimed his 85th career win at Atlanta, becoming the winningest driver in the modern era.
2011: Wine Competition Win
In 2011, the 2007 Ella Sofia Napa Valley Joie de Vivre wine from Jeff Gordon's wine line won double gold medals at the Indy International Wine Competition.
2012: Canadian Motor Speedway Designer
In 2012, Jeff Gordon became the designer of the Canadian Motor Speedway in Fort Erie, Ontario, which will be the largest track in Canada.
2012: Crash at Budweiser Shootout, 86th Cup Victory, and Retaliation Controversy
In 2012, Jeff Gordon struggled early in the season. He was involved in a crash at the Budweiser Shootout. Gordon secured his 86th Cup victory at Pocono. At the November Phoenix race, after contact from Clint Bowyer, Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer, resulting in a fine and probation. He then won the Ford EcoBoost 400.
2012: DVX Sun and Safety Sunglass Sponsorship
Since 2012, Jeff Gordon has been sponsored by DVX Sun and Safety Sunglass, which are constructed with elastomer from DuPont.
2013: 700th Consecutive Cup Start and Chase Controversy
In 2013, Jeff Gordon made his 700th consecutive Cup start in the Bojangles' Southern 500 and finished 3rd, marking his 300th career top-5 finish. Gordon was initially knocked out of the Chase but was later added after a controversy involving Joey Logano's team. He secured his first win of 2013 at Martinsville.
2014: Gordon Joins Schumacher with Five Victories at Indianapolis
In 2014, Jeff Gordon became only the second racer, alongside Michael Schumacher, to earn five victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a single racing series.
2014: Four Wins, "Jeff Gordon Day", and Chase Elimination
In 2014, Jeff Gordon recorded four wins, starting at the May Kansas race. Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard declared "Jeff Gordon Day" on the day of the Brickyard 400, which he won. Gordon also won at Michigan and Dover. He was eliminated from Chase contention at Phoenix. It is often discussed that had the Chase system not been in place, Gordon would have clinched his seventh championship in 2014.
January 22, 2015: Announcement of Final Full-Time Season
On January 22, 2015, Jeff Gordon announced that 2015 would be his last season as a full-time driver.
January 25, 2015: Hired by Fox Sports
On January 25, 2015, Jeff Gordon was hired by Fox Sports to work as a guest analyst for NASCAR on Fox broadcasts of Xfinity Series events alongside full-time announcers Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip.
February 12, 2015: Axalta Global Business Advisor
On February 12, 2015, Jeff Gordon was hired by sponsor Axalta Coating Systems as a global business advisor, working in the automotive refinishing, OEM, commercial vehicle, and industrial business departments.
April 10, 2015: Broadcasting Debut
On April 10, 2015, Jeff Gordon made his broadcasting debut on Fox Sports 1 during the network's coverage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.
May 21, 2015: Full-Time Analyst Announcement
On May 21, 2015, Jeff Gordon announced on NASCAR Race Hub that he would join Fox Sports as a full-time analyst for Cup Series events, beginning with the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season.
September 27, 2015: Gordon Becomes NASCAR's Iron Man
On September 27, 2015, at New Hampshire, Jeff Gordon started his 789th consecutive race, surpassing Ricky Rudd to become NASCAR's iron man. He ended his career with 797 consecutive starts.
November 6, 2015: Broadcast Booth Rehearsal
On November 6, 2015, Jeff Gordon joined Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip in the booth for the first time at a dress rehearsal during the WinStar World Casino & Resort 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. The rehearsal was not shown during the Camping World Truck Series broadcast.
2015: Gordon's Starts
As of the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400, Jeff Gordon has 797 starts, placing him ninth among all-time Cup Series drivers with the most starts overall.
2015: Consecutive Races Participated
Through the 2015 season, Jeff Gordon was the active "iron man" leader for consecutive races participated in with 797.
February 2016: Cup Series Analyst Debut
In February 2016, Jeff Gordon made his debut as a Cup Series analyst as part of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. To promote his first Daytona 500 as a broadcaster, he starred in the "Jeff Gordon Police Chase" advertisement, as part of the #DaytonaDay campaign.
2016: Full-Time Analyst Debut
In 2016, Jeff Gordon began his role as a full-time analyst for Fox Sports' Cup Series events.
2016: Return to Cup Series as Substitute Driver
In 2016, Jeff Gordon returned to the Cup Series as a substitute driver for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the No. 88. He ran several races and recorded his best finish of the season at Martinsville.
2016: Signs with Creative Artists Agency
In 2016, Jeff Gordon signed with Creative Artists Agency as their client. He was previously represented by Just Marketing International, International Management Group, and William Morris Agency.
2016: Jimmie Johnson's Seventh Cup Championship
In 2016, the No. 48 Chevrolet co-owned by Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick, and driven by Jimmie Johnson, won its seventh Cup championship.
2017: Gordon Earns Victories in Daytona Races
In 2017, Jeff Gordon became the fourth driver to earn victories in both the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
2017: Rolex 24 Win
In 2017, Jeff Gordon returned to the Rolex 24, partnering with Wayne Taylor Racing once again. He drove the No. 10 Cadillac alongside Angelelli, Jordan, and Ricky Taylor. Despite an early race incident where Gordon made contact with Tom Long, the No. 10 team won the overall class, making Gordon the fourth driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24.
2023: Hamlin claimed records at Kansas and Pocono
In 2023, Denny Hamlin surpassed Jeff Gordon's record for the most series wins at both Kansas Speedway and Pocono Raceway.
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